Telfair, Sugar Land
Encyclopedia
Telfair is a 2018 acres master planned community located in Sugar Land, Texas
. It consists of former property of the Central Prison Unit
.
Central Prison Unit
to Newland Communities, a developer from San Diego, California
. The property was one of the last large tracts within the city limits of Sugar Land that was open for development. In February 2005 Newland broke ground on Telfair, a master planned community located on former prison land. The community was named after a square in downtown Savannah, Georgia
. The developer planned to build 4,000 to 4,500 houses, and it planned to open the first group of houses in the northern hemisphere Spring of 2006. The development opened in 2006.
In 2009 Telfair had a 10% sales increase. At that time new house sales in most areas of Houston had decreased by double digits. As of March 2010, of the 2,800 planned houses, over 1,600 of them had been constructed. In 2010 the Houston Business Journal awarded the development three landmark awards: one for the best residential community, and two for transforming a housing facility of the Central Unit into a museum facility.
(Southwest Freeway). The main entrance is on University Boulevard, south of Texas State Highway 6.
.
Most of Telfair is zoned to Cornerstone Elementary School (in Telfair), Sartartia Middle School, and Kempner High School
. A portion is zoned to Colony Meadows Elementary School, Fort Settlement Middle School, and Clements High School
.
The community includes a plot of land earmarked to house a future elementary school, and another plot earmarked to house a future high school.
Two Camp building. The building is near New Territory Boulevard and University Boulevard.
The original community plans stated that 417 acres (168.8 ha) of the property would be recreational land. Newland planned to add a 70 acres (28.3 ha) lake. The community includes a plot of land earmarked to house a future municipal park, which would take an additional 70 acres.
parcel included a former inmate dormitory, Two Camp, Newland decided to restore the former dormitory building, which had some broken windows and some loose exterior bricks. The company arranged to place a new metal roof on the building. City officials and local historians positively reacted to the decision from Newland. In 2009 the 43000 square foot Two Camp Building and its surrounding land became the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Sugar Land. The subdivision donated the building and land to the City of Sugar Land, and the city leases the building to the museum. The museum spent $3 million to help renovate the building.
Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
. It consists of former property of the Central Prison Unit
Central Unit
The Central Unit was a Texas Department of Criminal Justice men's prison in Sugar Land, Texas. The approximately facility is from central Sugar Land on U.S. Highway 90A. The unit first opened in April 1909. The unit had 950 beds for men...
.
History
In 2002 the State of Texas sold a parcel of land from the Texas Department of Criminal JusticeTexas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
Central Prison Unit
Central Unit
The Central Unit was a Texas Department of Criminal Justice men's prison in Sugar Land, Texas. The approximately facility is from central Sugar Land on U.S. Highway 90A. The unit first opened in April 1909. The unit had 950 beds for men...
to Newland Communities, a developer from San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The property was one of the last large tracts within the city limits of Sugar Land that was open for development. In February 2005 Newland broke ground on Telfair, a master planned community located on former prison land. The community was named after a square in downtown Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. The developer planned to build 4,000 to 4,500 houses, and it planned to open the first group of houses in the northern hemisphere Spring of 2006. The development opened in 2006.
In 2009 Telfair had a 10% sales increase. At that time new house sales in most areas of Houston had decreased by double digits. As of March 2010, of the 2,800 planned houses, over 1,600 of them had been constructed. In 2010 the Houston Business Journal awarded the development three landmark awards: one for the best residential community, and two for transforming a housing facility of the Central Unit into a museum facility.
Composition
The community is located on U.S. Route 59U.S. Route 59
U.S. Route 59 is a north–south United States highway . A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, U.S. 59 is now a border-to-border route, Part of NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It parallels U.S. Route 75 for nearly its entire route, never much more than away, until it veers southwest...
(Southwest Freeway). The main entrance is on University Boulevard, south of Texas State Highway 6.
Education
Residents are zoned to the Fort Bend Independent School DistrictFort Bend Independent School District
The Fort Bend Independent School District, also known as Fort Bend ISD or FBISD, is a school district system in the U.S. state of Texas based in the city of Sugar Land....
.
Most of Telfair is zoned to Cornerstone Elementary School (in Telfair), Sartartia Middle School, and Kempner High School
Kempner High School
I. H. Kempner High School is a public high school in Sugar Land, Texas, USA and a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District.It was named after Isaac Herbert Kempner, the founder of Imperial Sugar, through which the city of Sugar Land received its name...
. A portion is zoned to Colony Meadows Elementary School, Fort Settlement Middle School, and Clements High School
Clements High School
William P. Clements High School, more commonly known as Clements High School, is a public high school in First Colony and in Sugar Land within the U.S. state of Texas that is named after former Texas governor Bill Clements, and is a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District...
.
The community includes a plot of land earmarked to house a future elementary school, and another plot earmarked to house a future high school.
Parks and recreation
The community includes Telfair Central Hall, a 9545 square foot community center with a design matching the former Central UnitCentral Unit
The Central Unit was a Texas Department of Criminal Justice men's prison in Sugar Land, Texas. The approximately facility is from central Sugar Land on U.S. Highway 90A. The unit first opened in April 1909. The unit had 950 beds for men...
Two Camp building. The building is near New Territory Boulevard and University Boulevard.
The original community plans stated that 417 acres (168.8 ha) of the property would be recreational land. Newland planned to add a 70 acres (28.3 ha) lake. The community includes a plot of land earmarked to house a future municipal park, which would take an additional 70 acres.
Museum
The former Central UnitCentral Unit
The Central Unit was a Texas Department of Criminal Justice men's prison in Sugar Land, Texas. The approximately facility is from central Sugar Land on U.S. Highway 90A. The unit first opened in April 1909. The unit had 950 beds for men...
parcel included a former inmate dormitory, Two Camp, Newland decided to restore the former dormitory building, which had some broken windows and some loose exterior bricks. The company arranged to place a new metal roof on the building. City officials and local historians positively reacted to the decision from Newland. In 2009 the 43000 square foot Two Camp Building and its surrounding land became the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a science museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, USA. The museum was established in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society, an organization whose goals were to provide a free institution for the people of Houston...
Sugar Land. The subdivision donated the building and land to the City of Sugar Land, and the city leases the building to the museum. The museum spent $3 million to help renovate the building.